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February 24, 2013

Latest Image Generator And High-Resolution Displays Installed

A comprehensive visual system upgrade for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) C-130J full-flight and mission simulator (FFMS) located at RAAF Base Richmond has been completed by CAE Australia. The simulator re-entered service ahead of schedule last month following minimal downtime and is now providing the RAAF with an enhanced and more realistic virtual environment to conduct flight and mission training.

Launch Abort Motor Designed By ATK For Crew Safety

A launch abort motor has been delivered to Kennedy Space Center, FL, for Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1) of NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, scheduled to fly next year. The test flight abort motor is configured with inert propellant, since the EFT-1 mission will have no crew on board, but otherwise replicates the launch abort system that will ensure astronaut safety on future crewed Orion exploration missions using the new Space Launch System (SLS).

For the first time while forward-deployed, amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted landing operations with the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, Feb. 19. The MV-22 Osprey is designed as the medium-lift replacement for the Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight assault support helicopter. The Osprey can operate as a helicopter or a turboprop aircraft and offers twice the speed, six times the range and three times the payload of the CH-46E.

NASA's Kepler mission scientists have discovered a new planetary system that is home to the smallest planet yet found around a star similar to our sun. The planets are located in a system called Kepler-37, about 210 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. The smallest planet, Kepler-37b, is slightly larger than our moon, measuring about one-third the size of Earth. It is smaller than Mercury, which made its detection a challenge.

Airplane Shown At JFK Airport At Crewmenber Event

At a crewmember event Thursday at its base at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), JetBlue Airways unveiled the first of its Airbus A320 aircraft to be outfitted with "Sharklets". The aircraft – registration number N821JB – is also the first of any North American airline to feature the fuel-saving structures. "Sharklets" are wing tip devices that the planemaker says improve the aerodynamics of Airbus aircraft and significantly cut fuel burn and emissions by up to four percent.

NASA has selected key contributions to a 2022 European Space Agency (ESA) mission that will study Jupiter and three of its largest moons in unprecedented detail. The moons are thought to harbor vast water oceans beneath their icy surfaces. NASA's contribution will consist of one U.S.-led science instrument and hardware for two European instruments to fly on ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission. JUICE will carry 11 experiments developed by scientific teams from 15 European countries, the United States and Japan.

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Pratt & Whitney's F117 engine, which powers the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter, recently exceeded 10 million engine flight hours. At the same time, the C-17 exceeded 2.5 million flight hours while supporting military and humanitarian mission in support of U.S. and allied troops around the globe. "This milestone is a testament to the reliability of the F117 engine," said Bev Deachin, vice president, Military Programs and Customer Support, Pratt & Whitney.

Two Distinct Objects Viewed Side-On Make Formation

An image of a large “flying V” captured by the Hubble Space Telescope is actually two distinct objects — a pair of interacting galaxies known as IC 2184. Both the galaxies are seen almost edge-on in the large, faint northern constellation of Camelopardalis (The Giraffe), and can be seen as bright streaks of light surrounded by the ghostly shapes of their tidal tails.

Expedite
Used by ATC when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of an imminent situation. Expedite climb/descent normally indicates to a pilot that the approximate best rate of climb/descent should be used without requiring an exceptional change in aircraft handling characteristics.

Aero Linx: The Vintage Aircraft Association
The Vintage Aircraft Association brings together people from around the world who share an interest in the aircraft of yesterday. This common bond is sustained by VAA activities and publications. Since it was established in 1971, the association has been working to keep aviation history alive. Originally known as the EAA Antique/Classic Division, VAA has the support of the internationally renowned EAA. The strength of this premiere aviation organization helps VAA further the causes of vintage aviation.

"Today was the next stepping stone for Osprey's introduction into the 7th Fleet. After 40 years, this will be the last float with the frogs [Sea Knights] and we will miss them."
Source: Cmdr. Hans Sholley, "air boss" aboard Bonhomme Richard, in comments made as (for the first time while forward-deployed), amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted landing operations with the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, Feb. 19. The MV-22 Osprey is designed as the medium-lift replacement for the Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight assault support helicopter.